Splitfire Spark Plug Open

It was no April Fool's joke when Danny Wiseman emerged from the highest-scoring TV finals in PBA history with his fifth title at the $180,000 SpIitFire Spark Plug Open before more than 4,000 screaming fans at the Erie (Pa.) Civic Center. Third-seeded, Wiseman upended leading qualifier Steve Jaros, 231•224, for the $39,000 winner's check and his first tour victory since 1991.

After sparing in his opening frame of the championship match, Wiseman launched a six-bagger, while Jaros spared, tripled, spared again and doubled to trail by 17 after seven frames. Wiseman allowed Jaros to close the gap when he left the 4-6-7-10 in his eighth frame, but after sparing in his own eighth, Jato s then chopped the 2-pin off the 2-5 leave. Despite Jaros striking out in his 10th frame, Wiseman needed only to spare for victory, which he did, and struck.

An emotional Wiseman said "This is the best. It's entertainment. The money's not that important. Since my dad died in 1992 it seems to have been one thing offer another. I got divorced more than a year ago and have been on the verge of quitting and getting a real job, Sin-- Now I've gotten all the distractions of my life out of the way."

Jaros said, "When Danny left his spit, I still had a good chance to shoot 240, but I just threw a bad shot." The Bolingbrook, Ill., pro earned $20,000 as runnerup. Ironically, Wiseman became the first non-Californian to triumph in Erie's five-year PBA tournament hosting.

In the opening game of the ABC Sports telecast, Mike Edwards ousted Walter Ray Williams Jr., 268-237. Williams, Stockton, Celli now has finished first (1993), second (1991), third (1994) and fourth (1992), plus his most recent fifth place showing worth $7,000, in his five Erie visits.

Edwards, Oklahoma City, left the 2-8 on his last ball against Wiseman to fall, 278-277. Wiseman's momentum continued against Mark Williams of Beaumont, Texas, whom he conquered, 277-235. All told, the TV finalists established a PBA record 253.37 average over their eight games bowled breaking the 251-plus average of Fresno, Calif., in 1979.

Mark Williams earned $12,000 for third place and Edwards collected $9,000 for fourth.

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